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The Business Showcase is a great opportunity for businesses to display and demonstrate their products to potential customers in a traditional trade-show environment.

Over 94 booths will be featured in the Showcase so far we have 68 booths left. Join us as we are OPEN FOR BUSINESS, and ready to do business on Friday, October 12, 5 – 8PM and Saturday, October 13, 9AM-3PM.

The Business After Hours will take place for Chamber Members only on Friday, October 12, 5-8PM in an exclusive effort for business to business networking, sponsored by Cartersville Internal Medical Associates. Tickets are $5 for the Friday event (tickets purchased for Friday night will get you in free for the Saturday event) tickets for Saturday for the General Public are $5, as well. Please call 770-382-1466, to get tickets or to purchase a booth.

During this time our thoughts and prayers go out to the gulf coast communities as Isaac decides to take his time in visiting the Gulf Coast states. 2-1-1s in LA, MS, AL and FL have all been very busy (well busier than usual!) in responding. Both the governors of MS and LA have activated 2-1-1 as part of the emergency response plans. We won’t hear until later today how things are going…but please join with me in hoping for minimal damage.

United Ways across the Gulf Coast have activated the United Way of the Gulf Coast Disaster Fund and website. Individuals and businesses interested in supporting United Way recovery following the storm should visit www.unitedwaygulfcoast.org to learn more. Donations are tax deductible and funds will be used to support immediate recovery and long-term rebuilding efforts.

The American Red Cross continues an immense disaster response effort that could last for weeks across multiple states, as the slow-moving Tropical Storm Isaac (no longer a Hurricane, but nonetheless still causing damage) affects millions with strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and coastal surges.

As of 2 pm CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Isaac was located about 50 miles west southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana. Isaac continues northwest at only 6 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 70 mph. The extremely slow movement of Isaac will prolong the damaging winds, storm surge and flood threats for at least the next 24 hours across southern Louisiana and Mississippi, and other neighboring states.

Key Impacts:

In Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, a 9-12 food storm surge overtopped 8-foot levees not inside the FEMA levee system. Other levees, including those rebuilt or repaired post-Katrina, appear to be holding back the storm surge.

Isaac is drenching southern Louisiana and Mississippi. Dangerous storm surge and flooding threats are likely to continue into Wednesday night. Through Friday morning, as many as 20 to 25 inches, are expected over much of LA, Southern MS and Southwest AL.

A hurricane warning is in effect as of 11 AM ET Wednesday from East of Morgan City, LA, to the Mississippi-Alabama state line, including New Orleans. A hurricane watch is in effect from Intracoastal City to Morgan City, LA.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for: East of the Mississippi-Louisiana state line to the Alabama-Florida state line, and Morgan City to Sabine Pass, TX. A tropical storm watch is in effect for East of High Island to just west of Sabine Pass, TX.

Isolated tornadoes are still possible along the Central Gulf Coast area and part of the lower Mississippi River valley through Thursday.

American Red Cross Response(in the U.S.)

The Red Cross is in action throughout the Gulf region, providing shelter and help in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Overall, the Red Cross has:

Deployed more than 2,700 disaster workers to the affected states.

As of Tuesday evening, opened 79 shelters in 6 states. More than 5,200 people were housed Tuesday night. 67 were Red Cross shelters with more than 4,000 residents while 12 independent shelters had about 1,100 residents.

187 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) ready to provide meals once it is safe for them to do so. More than 60 additional ERVs are on alert and prepared to deploy.

Delivered more than 300,000 ready-to-eat meals to the area, along with kitchen support trailers. Red Cross Partner the Southern Baptist Convention also has mobile kitchens prepositioned in the area capable of producing thousands of meals daily.

Prepositioned trailers of relief supplies in the area and sent thousands of additional supplies like clean up and personal hygiene items, cots, blankets, coolers, shovels, rakes, tarps, gloves and masks.

Prepared Katrina/Rita anniversary coping tips for community members and workers who may be dealing with people who need emotional support.

Continued to work closely with local, state and federal officials and community organizations to coordinate this multi-state relief response.

Many volunteers from our community partners assisting with the response, including AmeriCorps, Islamic Relief USA, NAACP, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and the Salvation Army.

State by State

In Mississippi:

Staff and food have since reached all Red Cross shelter locations in Mississippi.

Assigned nearly 400 disaster responders.

Opened 28 shelters that housed more than 2,000 people Tuesday night.

Made more than 100 health and mental health contacts with people impacted by Isaac.

In Louisiana:

Opened 34 shelters that housed almost 2,500 people Tuesday night.

Assigned more than 500 disaster responders.

Begun bulk distribution of items such as water, clean-up supplies and insect repellent.

In Alabama:

Opened 7 shelters that housed more than 600 people Tuesday night.

Assigned more than 400 disaster responders.

More than 4,000 meals and snacks have been distributed as of Wednesday morning.

In Florida:

Opened 6 shelters that housed about 100 people Tuesday night.

Assigned more than 1,300 disaster responders.

Distributed more than 500 relief items such as comfort kits including toiletries.

Served more than 8,500 meals and snacks.

Coordinated with emergency agencies to support Tampa-area residents and tens of thousands of visitors for the Republican National Convention.

Wednesday, many of the more than 1,300 disaster responders in Florida are in position to respond in Mississippi and Louisiana.

In Georgia:

Prepared a shelter to receive evacuees from neighboring states as they arrive.

The majority of trained Red Cross volunteers in Georgia are on stand-by to respond.

Georgia’s Red Cross has deployed 35 disaster volunteers and 2 staff to respond in 4 states and at National Headquarters. More will follow in the days ahead.

Georgia has recruited 20 volunteer drivers for deployment tomorrow. They will take 10 panel trucks loaded with relief supplies in metro Atlanta to the Gulf region for distribution.

In Texas:

Opened 3 shelters to receive evacuees from neighboring states should they arrive.

Assigned almost 90 disaster responders.

Dozens of Disaster Responders are staged in Houston for deployment to LA and MS.

This is a very costly operation and we encourage all corporate supporters to join us to help communities affected by Isaac now. Please contact me for more information about how you and your company can help. We thank the corporate members who already support us – the honor roll list follows.

In addition, information on our social media outreach and maps follow here.

Social Media Activity via the American Red Cross digiDOC

As of 11 am on Wednesday, the Red Cross had pulled in almost 91,000 social conversations (32,000 in the last 24 hours). The most common conversations are about how the storm is affecting people (power’s out, wind and rain in the area), followed by people talking about coping (fear, anxiety). The news story about the deployment of the National Guard to Plaquemines Parish to rescue trapped people has been the most-shared story in the Damage Reports category.

Through the generosity of our American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and Disaster Responder members, the American Red Cross is prepared before disaster strikes. Corporate members help secure a reliable funding base for disaster relief services that enables the Red Cross to respond immediately, meeting the needs of individuals and families affected by disaster anywhere in the United States, regardless of cost.

Right now the Red Cross is on the ground and taking action with the support of our corporate partners.

Make a Financial Gift to Disaster Relief – Help us help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the recent spring floods and tornadoes, by making a financial gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

Donate Blood or Host A Blood Drive – Encourage employees to participate in community blood drives and/or host a blood drive on-site for both staff and customers. As a blood drive sponsor, you can help meet the blood needs of patients in your community and across the United States.

Implement a Customer Donation Program – Give your customers the opportunity to support Disaster Relief by simply adding a dollar amount to their total purchase.

Sponsor an Employee Giving and Matching Gift Program – Engage employees by sponsoring a fundraising campaign in support of Disaster Relief and provide an incentive to participate by matching employee donations.

Conduct a Percentage of Sales Program – Showcase your commitment to the Red Cross and the people we serve while generating sales for your company by donating a percentage of your sales to Disaster Relief.

Donate Ad Space – Donate a portion of your advertising inventory and help share our stories about the individuals, families and communities affected by disaster.

Place a Red Cross Banner Ad on Your Website – Place a Red Cross banner ad on your company website to reinforce your support of the Red Cross and encourage donations through our Donate Now webpage.

American Red Cross “Microsite”

You may also wish to create a custom online portal so and your customers and/or associates can support American Red Cross disaster relief efforts easily and securely online. We call this online donation website a “microsite.” Visit the online agreement and please contact me for more information.

Again, this is a very costly operation and we encourage all supporters to join us to help communities affected by Isaac now. Please contact me if you are interested.